Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 124-132, June, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of technosol substrates on soybean growth on Greenhouse experiments in Rwanda

Hicham J. O.¹*, Essaïdi Shatha², Refaeli N. Raviv³, Shimon Perlman³ Golda Ben-Gurion¹ and Itzhak D. Rabin⁴

¹Department of Agricultural Resources Management, School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Soil and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Rwanda (NUR), P.O. Box 117, Butare, Rwanda.

³University of Kassel, Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics (OPATS), Germany.

⁴Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.

E-mail: hicham54@gmail.com

Accepted 16 May, 2016

Abstract

Large areas of the Gatumba Mining District (GMD) in Rwanda are covered by Technosols (pegmatite or pegmatite-soil mixtures) resulting from coltan (Colombite and Tantalite) mining activities. These substrates are very poor in total and available plant nutrient contents and are therefore low in soil productivity. Due to agricultural land shortage in Rwanda, almost all the available land is farmed. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different fertilizers on plant nutrient uptake and biomass production of soybean. A greenhouse pot experiment using pegmatite substrate alone and a pegmatite-Lixisol Bt mixture was conducted in a complete randomized design (CRD). Tithonia diversifolia biomass (T) was applied at 5 tonnes (t) dry matter (DM) ha^-1 alone and combined with triple superphosphate (TSP), matongo rock phosphate (MRP) and ammonium sulphate (AS). The results demonstrate that soybean DM, grain yield, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake were higher on pegmatite than on the mixture and the combination of T, TSP and MRP (total: 50 kg P ha^-1 with 70% from MRP and 30% from TSP) which gave higher DM yields compared to the other treatments. The integration of tithonia green manure and different inorganic fertilizers significantly increased the N, P and K uptake by soybean above ground and root biomass versus tithonia alone.

Key words: Tithonia, soybean, pegmatite, Lixisol Bt, Matongo rock phosphate.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (4), pp. 117-123, June, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pasteurization and chemical preservatives effects on the physiochemical, sensory properties and microbial qualities of kunun-zaki

Adebayor B. Yemi*, Folorunsho David Mark and A. U. Oluchi

*Department of Food Science and Technology, The Federal University, Wukari. Nigeria Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B O231, Bauchi, Nigeria.

Email: adebayor30@gmail.com

Accepted 31 May, 2016

Abstract

“Kunun-zaki” was prepared using millet, with varied levels (0.01-0.05%) of chemical preservatives (sodium benzoate and metabisulphite). The effects of the chemical preservatives on the physico-chemical (total soluble solids, total solids, moisture, ash, and protein), sensory (colour, mouth feel, flavour and general acceptability), and microbial qualities were evaluated. Total soluble solid decreased from 11.0 to 4.2, 11 to 5.3, 11.0 to 10, 11.0 to 9, 11.0 to 9.0, 11.0 to 7.5, 11.0 to 10, and 11.0 to 9.0%; total solids decreased from 21.20 to 20.8, 21.0 to 20.9, 21.2 to 21.0, 21.8 to 21.1, 21.8 to 21.7, 21.0 to 20.9, 21.5 to 20.9, and 21.9 to 21.7 g/100g, while protein increased from 3.27 to 4.31, 3.57 to 3.59, 3.4 to 3.44, 3.48 to 3.49, 3.22 to 3.29, 3.29 to 3.32, 3.19 to 3.23, and 3.22 to 3.29%, total titratable acidity increased from 0.28 to 2.1, 0.12 to 0.91, 0.13 to 0.42, 0.2 to 0.61, 0.18 to 0.83, 0.19 to 0.34, 0.18 to 0.32, and 0.17 to 0.3 g/100ml, total microbial count increased from 1.8 × 10⁴ to TNTC, 4.0 × 10³ to 8.7 × 10⁴, 2.5 × 10³ to 7.4 × 10⁴, 0 to 5.4 × 104, 0 to 3.85 × 10⁴, 2.0 × 10³ to 6.9 × 10⁴, 1.0 × 10³ to 6.45 × 10⁴ and 0 to 4.9 × 10⁴ cfu/ml for UPK, PK, P (0.01) NaBZ, P (0.03) NaBZ, P (0.05) NaBZ, P (0.01) MBS, P (0.03) MBS, and P (0.05) MBS respectively with increase in the storage duration (0-7 days). The samples preserved with metabisulphite had the lowest mean scores for colour. The pasteurized samples chemically preserved with 0.03% sodium benzoate product had the least microbial count, and was most accepted in terms of assessed sensory attributes.

Key words: Effects, chemical preservatives, pasteurization, shelf-life, kunun-zaki.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 108-116, June, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Efficacy of Abamectin (ABM) against various stages of R. ferrugineus under laboratory conditions

*Al-Waleed Albutairi, Nasser G. Laden and Yasser Hariri Al Saud

Date Palm Research Center of Excellence, King Faisal University, Alahsa 31982, P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia.

E-mail: waleed1962@gmail.com

Accepted 1 May, 2016

Abstract

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is one of the most devastating and invasive insect pests causing immense damage on date palms across the world. Natural insecticide Abamectin (ABM) has been evaluated against developmental stages of RPW under laboratory conditions. Insects were exposed to residual film of the insecticide on transparent cups using a Potter precision laboratory spray tower. Mortality of males, females, neonate larvae, larvae, eggs and pupae was recorded at different time intervals after treatment. Bioassay test showed that ABM at 600 ppm (µg/ml) caused 60% mortality against females and males after 24 h. By increasing the concentration to 1000 ppm, the mortality reached 100% for adults. The LC₅₀-values calculated for females and males were 582.9 and 502.1 ppm and that of LC₉₅ was 1226.9 and 967.2 ppm, respectively. Neonate larvae exhibited more sensitivity toward ABM, where 200 and 500 ppm caused 80 and 100% mortality at 24 h after treatment with LC₅₀ 98.7 ppm and LC ₉₅ 352 ppm. In the meantime, the toxicity effect of the treatment with ABM up to 500 ppm checked at the 24 h period was 0% mortality against 25-day old larvae, and then it reached 60% by the same concentration at 7 days after treatment. Other developmental stages, eggs and pupae, were dramatically affected by ABM, where 500 ppm caused 90.3% egg unhatchability and 100% mortality of pupae. Therefore, ABM can be a possible candidate to be applied on date palm by the Ministry of Agriculture after successful field experiments. 

Key words: Abamectin, red palm weevil, bio-insecticide, bioassay.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 104-107, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of herbicides and manual weeding on weed management and tomato yield in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

Olumidele Roland Femi

Department of Plant Science, Ekiti State University, P. M. B. 5363, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.

E-mail: femi_rolands@yahoo.com

Accepted 27 April, 2016

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of herbicides and manual weeding on weed management and tomato yield in Ado Ekiti, a southwestern Nigerian location. Pendimethalin at the rate of 1.25 kg a.i.ha^-1 was applied pre-transplanting on ridges; Paraquat was applied post-transplanting as supplementary to earlier treatments at the rate of 2.4 kg a.i.ha^-1 and manual weeding was done at 3 and 7 weeks after transplanting. The herbicide combinations provided the best weed suppression in terms of weed density and biomass reductions. Field establishment count showed that the herbicides used did not pose lethal effect on the tomato plant. Comparable yield figures were obtained from plots sprayed with the herbicide combinations: manual weeding + herbicide combinations and manual weeding at 3 and 7 weeks after transplanting (WAT). Pendimethalin applied pre-transplanting without a supplementary weed management could not give a season long weed management and thus led to lower tomato yield.

Key words: Tomato, pendimethalin, paraquat, manual weeding, yield.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 099-103, May, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of rhizobacterium on  the  rhizosphere and endophytic densities of M. javanica in tomato varieties

Oyembor R. Milicent¹*, Timidi Francis¹ and Ebinabor David-West Jr²

¹Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Abia State University, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

E-mail: milicent007@yahoo.com

Accepted 8 April, 2016

Abstract

The biological control potential of 0.2 cfu/ml of the bacterium; Psuedomonas flourescens was assessed by inundating two varieties of tomato; Roma VF and UC83B infected with 500; 1000; 1500 and 2000 eggs/(J²) juveniles of the nematode Meloidogyne javanica. The control sets were only infected with M. javanica and the randomised block designs with five replicates were adopted. Plants were grown in 30cm mouth-wide black polyethene bags containing steam sterilized soil mixture of loam and sand in the ratio of 1:1. Endophytic and rhizosphere populations of M. javanica were assessed at 30, 60 and 90 days after inoculation (DAI). Result of the study revealed that P. flourescens did not inhibit M. javanica egg hatch and root penetration 30 DAI in both tomato cultivars. However, the endophytic population density of M. javanica varied greatly within the 60 and 90 DAI, in both tomato cultivars, which was attributed to host specific factors. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the height and the girth of the controls and that of the P. flourescens inundated replicates. There were significant difference s (p<0.05) in the root weight between the control and the P. flourescens induced replicates.

Key words: Endophytic and rhizosphere population, egg hatch, nematode penetration, feeding sites and plant growth stimulatory factors.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (3), pp. 085-091, March, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Toxicity and preventive action of essential oils in growth of cotton ramulosis Colletotrichum gossypii

José  Baccarin¹, Jorge H. Ambrosio¹ and Antônio Irineu Salles²*

¹Agronomy Department, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), R. Dom Manoel De Medeiros, S/N, Dois Irmãos, Recife-PE. Cep. 52171-900, Brazil.

²Brazilian Company of Aricultural Research (Embrapa Algodão), Cp 174, Cep. 58107-720, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.

E-mail: Anton251@gmail.com

Accepted 7 February, 2016

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and preventive action of essential oils in growth of cotton ramulosis, Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporioides, in vitro and in vivo conditions. Six fungus-isolates obtained from cotton belts, in Southern and Mid-West Brazilian regions were submitted to different oil concentrations in bioassays and inhibition of mycelia growth were evaluated during 7 days. Then, the selected oil was used in a preventive bioassay carried out in greenhouse using a susceptible cotton cultivar infected with fungus-conidia at 1.0 × 10⁶ mL-1. Plants in greenhouse were daily evaluated during 30 days. Among all samples evaluated, clove oil at low concentration (500 ppm) provided best results as to fungus-growth inhibition. The disease severity was reduced to 60% in relation to control (no-infected plants). These results mean an interesting alternative in the preventive control of cotton ramulosis, especially to small farmers which often have adopted an agro-ecological management for disease control of crops.

Key words: Colletotrichum, toxicity, control, disease, fungus, growth, ramulosis, inhibition.